The battlefield lay silent after the first version of Leios dissolved into faint echoes of celestial light. Ashura adjusted his grip on his sword, Transcendent Wrath crackling faintly along the edge. His body, muscles taut, was poised like a coiled spring. He had no system support, no authorities, no elemental advantages—only him, his sword, and his will.
From the heavens above, a new form manifested. Taller, more imposing, with wings of divine light unfurling majestically, the Defender of Heavens descended. Its presence alone pressed down on the ground like a gravitational force, wings cutting through the air, halo blazing, every motion radiating celestial authority.
Ashura smirked. "Another one? Let's see if you're worth my time."
The Defender's gaze pierced him. "You defy the natural order, mortal. You cannot survive this trial."
Ashura's grin widened. "I don't survive. I dominate."
The air shattered as the Defender surged forward, wings slicing a tempest through the sky. Ashura leapt, evading debris and razor-sharp air currents, black lightning streaking along his blade. Every strike, every movement, was precise, a deadly dance of speed, strategy, and fury.
The Defender summoned a wave of ethereal knights, hundreds of them, shimmering with divine light. Ashura moved through them like a storm, sword arcs cutting paths through their ranks. Each clash, each strike, demanded every ounce of strength and skill, pushing him to the edge of exhaustion—but he refused to yield.
Shockwaves shook the battlefield as the Defender unleashed an overwhelming attack, forcing Ashura to dodge and weave at impossible speeds. Every movement was deliberate, every counter measured. I won't back down. I can't back down.
The battle intensified with every strike. Wings and sword clashed, black and purple lightning cutting through blinding white divine light. Ashura's aura blazed, his movements a blur of martial precision and raw power. Near-death moments struck constantly—he was thrown against jagged rocks, slammed into the ground by shockwaves, and slashed by energy arcs—but each time he rose, driven by unyielding fury and focus.
Finally, the Defender prepared its ultimate assault—a concentrated beam of light meant to obliterate the battlefield. Ashura leapt, channeling Transcendent Wrath, lightning arcing violently along his sword. He met the beam mid-air, cutting it with a sweep that tore the energy apart. Sparks erupted, wind howled, and the collision of forces sent the Defender staggering.
Ashura landed, blade still raised, breathing hard but unbroken. The Defender's wings flickered, its form trembling under the strain. He smirked through the blood in his mouth. "Not bad… you almost made me sweat."
He knew the battle was far from over. Beyond the Defender of Heavens lay even stronger versions—each more powerful, more dangerous than the last. And he would face them all without a single tool from the system. Only his skills, his sword, his body, and his fury.
Above the trials, time flowed differently. In this arena of will and strength, every second was a lifetime, every strike a test of mortal resolve against divine might. And Ashura's resolve was absolute.
The next stage awaited.